I can't help with the rules in the US, but the australian Op Regs are as follows 5.7.17. Night tandem jumps with a student who does not hold at least a Certificate "A" may be made only as display jumps by a tandem-master who has made at least 100 previous tandem descents as tandem-master, and in accordance with 5.7.16.

I was under the impression that the USPA did more then just discourage them. It is my understanding that all student jumpers must have landed prior to actual sunset, and a tandem skydive is a student jump, thus night tandems were forbidden except in special cases with written permission from the USPA.

a night tandem would seem like a waste of money to me... even as a licensed skydiver... the visuals are a big part of skydiving.. what are the chances a first time jumper is going to be aware enough to really recognize the limited sight picture they will get by doing a night jump?

I was under the impression that the USPA did more then just discourage them. It is my understanding that all student jumpers must have landed prior to actual sunset, and a tandem skydive is a student jump, thus night tandems were forbidden except in special cases with written permission from the USPA.

Am I wrong in that understanding?

2005 SIM: Sec. 2-1-E9

"All student jumps must be completed between official sunrise and sunset. [NW]"

And tandem passengers are considered students. The [NW] means Non Waiver-able

I did a night tandem jump because I have always been sort of nightblind, and after Lasik I wanted to see if my eyes had improved enough for me to do a night jump on my own. I was told I could ask a TM but I had to ask an experienced one. No regs, just common sense.

It was a blast!

Turned out I could see fine, however my sense of direction was gone, the TM was screaming in my ear in freefall and pointing, but I couldn´t find the lit T...

The next year I did do a night jump on my own, with 10 of us jumping in what turned out to be too much wind, noone ended up at the DZ but most were close, I ended up miles away

A very experienced TM took his kid up on the same load, we think she´s the youngest night tandem passenger here. This was her 2nd tandem. She loved it! And some of the girls here that are afraid to do night jumps or are night blind are now thinking about asking their bf TMs about doing a night tandem as well, to see what it´s like, but not all TM´s will do it.

I hate to put on my official USPA hat because it makes me look funny being decorated with many golden stars and magic lightning bolts, but I can probably help here. I had a situation in my region where I had to inquire about this issue specifically. What came out of the S&T Committee and USPA Headquarters is that tandem jumps with students are classified as student jumps and thus prohibited from occurring at night (per the below BSR). Nothing in the BSR's specifically addresses the case where a licensed jumper is on the front of the tandem, thus it is technically "legal."

Tandem demos are whole separate ball of wax with the requisite BSR waivers and other such fun.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, --Q Pacific Regional Director

In reply to:

Quote:

2005 SIM: Sec. 2-1-E9

"All student jumps must be completed between official sunrise and sunset. [NW]"

And tandem passengers are considered students. The [NW] means Non Waiver-able

Then how about those special demo at night/dusk tandems we've seen done? That was my point about the "special cases."

Hey, thanks for the "straight poop." Those little details have been sort of bugging me the past 2 years (since I got my TI, basically), but since it didn't effect me personally I never took the time to get the full info from the USPA. Thanks.

a night tandem would seem like a waste of money to me... even as a licensed skydiver... the visuals are a big part of skydiving.. what are the chances a first time jumper is going to be aware enough to really recognize the limited sight picture they will get by doing a night jump?

What about for someone who has a slew of tandems and no interest in learning how to jump on their own? Hypothetically speaking of course.

There is little or no reason, or benefit, to take a newbie tandem student on a night jump.

I've talked to several instructors who have been forced by ASC in Cedartown to do tandems until midnight. This has been done many, many times at that dz. So I'd say if there's a benefit, it is that the dz can get as much money out of a day's jumping as possible.

I can't help with the rules in the US, but the australian Op Regs are as follows 5.7.17. Night tandem jumps with a student who does not hold at least a Certificate "A" may be made only as display jumps by a tandem-master who has made at least 100 previous tandem descents as tandem-master, and in accordance with 5.7.16.

just came down from my first night tandem, it was awesome, the moon reflecing off the ocean, the lights of wollongong and is neighboring suburbs...